RNA quality from stool samples stored in different collection media
Evaluation of RNA quality from stool samples stored in different collection media with different extraction kits.
Lim, J., Toh, K. Y., Chan, E., Rasiti, H., & Watcharapichat, P. (2025). Evaluation of RNA quality from stool samples stored in different collection media with different extraction kits [Poster presentation]. 10th Microbiome R&D and Business Collaboration Congress.
BACKGROUND
RNA extraction from stool samples is crucial for microbial profiling and functional studies such as meta transcriptomics. However, a comprehensive evaluation of RNA extraction methods and stool collection media for isolating high-quality RNA remains poorly understood. This study systematically evaluated the compatibility of five RNA extraction kits. RNA yield, purity (260/280 and 260/230 ratios) and integrity (TapeStation and gel electrophoresis) were assessed across all combinations. Our findings reveal that the pairing for the collection media and extraction kits significantly influences the RNA quality.
RESULTS
The ZymoBiomics RNA Miniprep Kit in combination with Qiagen PowerProtect provided the most consistent and high-quality RNA.
CONCLUSION
Overall, the results from our study highlight the importance of optimised sample collection and extraction strategies for reliable RNA recovery from stool samples. This study provides a valuable framework for researchers conducting microbial transcriptomic analysis and supports more informed decisions in experimental design for gene expression profiling in complex microbial community.
